About this episode

This episode explores the events leading up to the Iranian hostage crisis and the impact of President Jimmy Carter's actions in 1978.

“You are now leaving Iranian airspace!” It was a moment that dozens of hostages and their loved ones longed for with bated breath, for 444 days. Freedom. To be released, and returned home. The Iranian hostage crisis captured the attention of the world, but how did we get there? President Jimmy Carter was in Iran for a New Year’s celebration in 1978, and his infamous toast would have become a viral clip had it taken place today. Little did he know that days later, an Iranian newspaper article would set off months of cyclical rioting, protests, and ultimately the invasion of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, with 66 Americans being taken hostage.

People in this episode

Host: Sharon McMahon

Topics covered

• Iranian hostage crisis
• 1970s history
• U.S. foreign policy
• Jimmy Carter
• Middle East relations

Keywords

• Iran
• hostage crisis
• Jimmy Carter
• Tehran
• 1970s
• U.S. Embassy
• foreign policy

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Iran, Tehran

More episodes of The Preamble

• How Women Won WWII: By the Glow of Radium · July 20, 2026 · 34 min
• How Women Won WWII: A Starlette Spies for France with Josephine Baker · July 13, 2026 · 32 min
• How Women Won WWII: The Women of the Secret Cities · July 6, 2026 · 32 min
• How Women Won WWII: Rosie the Riveter Was Just the Beginning · June 29, 2026 · 32 min
• Mayhem: The 1970s You Never Knew, Episode 12 · June 22, 2026 · 34 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Preamble podcast page.